SLUH's weather balloon project, Soaring to New Heights in Environmental Science, has been recognized as the 2017 Notable Entry – High School in the Vernier Engineering Contest.

Bill Anderson's Environmental Science class is launching a weather balloon twice each school year to understand the structure and function of the atmosphere and to investigate seasonal and altitudinal changes in atmospheric conditions.

Sponsored by Vernier Software & Technology Company, the contest is open to current instructors of engineering or STEM subjects in middle school or high school. Applicants are judged on innovative ideas, engineering objectives, and the ease for others to replicate the project. Middle school and high school applicants needed to explain how the project addresses the engineering practices called for in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). A panel of judges comprised of educational professionals from Vernier scored applications. Two high schools and two middle schools are recognized each year, one Grand Prize Winner and one Notable Entry.